Nicholas Catt Transcribed will: 1654

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Catt

Transcibed will of Nicholas Catt of Mountfield
From The National Archives, Kew; PROB 11/291/386
Transcribed by Dave Roberts

In the name of God Amen the Twentieth day of November Anno Domi One Thousand Six hundred Fifty Four I Nicholas Catt of Mountfield in the county of Sussex yeoman being sick in body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to god for it I do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First I give and bequeath my soul unto the hands of Almighty God that made me and gave me life and my body to be buried in Christian burial at the discretion of my son in law Thomas Stevens hoping to be saved by the only merits of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Catt the sum of Thirty pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to him by my Executor hereafter named within half a year after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my son Stephen Catt the sum of Twenty and Five pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to him by my Executor within half a year after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Anne Catt the now daughter of my aforesaid Stephen Catt the sum of Five pounds of lawful money of England to be paid to her by my Executor as soon as she shall attain and come to her full age of One and Twenty years Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Anne Stephens the now wife of Thomas Stevens aforesaid the sum of Fifteen shillings of lawful money of England to be paid unto her by my Executor in half a year after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto her six children that is to say John Reeve, Fanny Reeve, Anne Reeve, Susannah Reeve, Elizabeth Reeve and Mary Reeve the sum of Five pounds a piece of lawful money of England to be paid unto each of them by my Executor at their several ages of One and Twenty years And my mind and will is that if any of them happen to depart this life before he or she shall attain and come to the said several age or ages aforesaid then the survivors of them to share equally And also my mind and will is that my Executor shall and will pay unto my aforesaid daughter Anne Stevens the sum of Ten shillings of lawful money of England yearly and every year until her youngest childs legacy becomes due and payable and then to cease Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Peckham now wife of John Peckham the sum of Fifty shillings of lawful money of England and to be paid to her by my Executor within half a year after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto her daughter Elizabeth Fissenden now wife of John Fissenden the sum of Fifty shillings to be paid to her by my Executor within half a year after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Peckham her other five children that is to say John Peckham, David Peckham, Anne Pechkam, Marie Peckham and Jane Peckham the sum of five pounds apiece of lawful money of England to be paid unto each of them by my Executor at their several ages of one and twenty years And my mind and will is that if any of them happen to depart this life before he or she do attain and come to their said and several age or ages aforesaid then the survivors of them to share equally And also my mind and will is that my Executor shall & will pay unto my aforesaid daughter Elizabeth Peckham the sum of Ten shillings of lawful money of England yearly and every year until her youngest childs legacy becomes due and payable and then to cease And lastly all the residue of my movable goods not bequeathed (excepting my wearing apparel and all the ready money which I now have in my .. in the now dwelling house of my aforesaid son in law Thomas Stevens) my debts and legacies paid I give and bequeath unto my eldest Son David Catt whom I do make ordain and appoint to be my full and sole Executor to this my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of those whose names are here under written the mark of Nicholas Catt Read Signed Sealed and Acknowledged to be his last will and testament in the presence of Nicholas Grove Richard Reynolds sen

This will was proved at London the One and Twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord God One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Nine before the Judge for probate of wills and .. lawfully .. signed by the oath of David Catt the son and Executor in the said will named to .. was comitted Administration of all and singular the goods chattels and debts of the deceased he being first sworn by commission well & truly to administer

Research Notes

Dates
date of will: 20 November 1654
grant of probate: 21 May 1659

People mentioned in the will:

1. Nicholas Catt of Mountfield, yeoman
2. David Catt, eldest son, appointed sole executor, receives residue of movable goods
3. John Catt, son, received 30 pounds
4. Stephen Catt, son, received 25 pounds
5. Anne Catt, granddaughter and daughter of Stephen, received 5 pounds when 21
6. Anne Stephens, eldest daughter and wife of Thomas Stephens, received 15 shillings plus 10 shillings per year until youngest child turns 21
7. Thomas Stephens, son in law, husband of Anne Stephens and step father of John, Fanny, Anne, Sussanah, Elizabeth and Mary and whose house Nicholas Catt is living in, identified but received nothing
8. John Reeve, grandson and son of Anne Stephens, 5 pounds when 21
9. Fanny Reeve, granddaughter and daughter of Anne Stephens, 5 pounds when 21
10. Anne Reeve, granddaughter and daughter of Anne Stephens, 5 pounds when 21
11. Sussanah Reeve, granddaughter and daughter of Anne Stephens, 5 pounds when 21
12. Elizabeth Reeve, granddaughter and daughter of Anne Stephens, 5 pounds when 21
13. Mary Reeve, granddaughter and daughter of Anne Stephens, 5 pounds when 21
14. Elizabeth Peckham, daughter and wife of John Peckham, received 50 shillings plus 10 shillings per year until youngest child turns 21
15. John Peckham, son in law, husband of Elizabeth Peckham and father of Elizabeth, John, David, Anne, Marie and Jane, identified but received nothing
16. Elizabeth Fissenden, granddaughter and daughter of Elizabeth Peckham and wife of John Fissenden, received 50 shillings
17. John Fissenden, husband of Elizabeth Fissenden, identified but received nothing
18. John Peckham, grandson and son of Elizabeth Peckham, 5 pounds when 21
19. David Peckham, grandson and son of Elizabeth Peckham, 5 pounds when 21
20. Anne Peckham, granddaughter and daughter of Elizabeth Peckham, 5 pounds when 21
21. Marie Peckham, granddaughter and daughter of Elizabeth Peckham, 5 pounds when 21
22. Jane Peckham, granddaughter and daughter of Elizabeth Peckham, 5 pounds when 21
23. Nicholas Grove, witness
24. Richard Reynolds sen, witness

History

Originally thought to be the will of Nicholas Catt of Rotherfield (b. 1579) but now believed to be the will of Nicholas Catt born in 1576 at Brenchley, Kent